Broadband News

Mon, 20th Oct 2014

Former AAPT CEO joins Nextgen Networks

Former AAPT CEO, David Yuile, has been appointed managing director of Nextgen Networks.

Source: Computerworld

Telstra unveils $112m Sydney HQ revamp

Telstra today cut the ribbon on its revamped Sydney headquarters, part of a $112 million refurbishment effort to remodel the centre into a "state-of-the-art customer technology hub".

Source: iTnews Australia

NBN rolls out FttN to 200,000 in NSW and Qld

Work is under way to bring the National Broadband Network to 200,000 homes and businesses in NSW and Queensland as the national trail enters a new phase, the company has said.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Yatango claims 'best value' 4G

Incumbent telcos have been over-charging consumers for too long, says upstart Yatango.

Source: iTWire

NBN Co names first 140 FTTN sites

NBN Co has listed the first 140 suburbs to receive fibre-to-the-node technology as part of the new-look multi-technology mix NBN rollout.

Source: iTnews Australia

NBN Co begins first fibre-to-node rollout to 140 suburbs

NBN Co is set to begin its first fibre-to-the-node roll-out to 140 suburbs in NSW and Queensland as part of a trial to test technology which marries fibre optic cables with Telstra copper wires.

Source: ARN

Fri, 17th Oct 2014

Australia seeks cost limits for TPP piracy crackdown

ISPs should act on notices of copyright infringement, but not if it costs too much to implement, according to a new draft Trans-Pacific Partnership IP chapter leak.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Adelaide marches towards smart city without NBN

Adelaide's move towards a smart city was made easier by the town largely already having access to fibre, according to the South Australian Government.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Thu, 16th Oct 2014

Free international calls for Vodafone customers

From the 'it's our birthday so you get the presents' department: Vodafone is offering free international calls to selected destinations this weekend.

Source: iTWire

NBN Co takes Pipe Networks to court

NBN Co has opened a new front in its conflict with TPG over the telco's fibre-to-the-basement (FTTB) rollout.

Source: Computerworld

NBN fibre to the node trial reveals slower speeds

In contrast to NBN Co's own initial trial results, iiNet has revealed one customer was only able to get 50Mbps on their trial fibre to the node service.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Turnbull moves on TPG cherry picking

The Government has told TPG it must offer broadband services on the same basis and at the same price as the NBN, so that it cannot 'cherry pick' profitable customers.

Source: iTWire

Wed, 15th Oct 2014

Amazon Web Services to build two Sydney data centres

Cloud behemoth Amazon Web Services is constructing two large data centres of its own in Sydney, Australia.

Source: iTnews Australia

Google finds vulnerability in SSL web encryption

Google researchers have discovered a vulnerability in a version of the SSL (secure sockets layer) web encryption protocol which allows attackers to break its cryptographic security.

Source: iTnews Australia

$27 a month: Turnbull sets out rules to counter TPG FTTB threat to NBN

Communications minister Malcolm Turnbull has published the draft licence condition for telcos that want to roll out infrastructure that competes with the National Broadband Network.

Source: Computerworld

Tue, 14th Oct 2014

Telstra says call centres must improve

Telstra CEO David Thodey has conceded that the company needs to look at the quality of its call centres, but intends to continue increasing the use of its offshore providers.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Vodafone teams up with Spotify

Vodafone Australia and music streaming site Spotify have announced a deal that will give Vodafone customers access to Spotify music.

Source: iTWire

Vodafone launches new business plans

Vodafone Australia is trying hard. It has announced a new business product, Vodafone Red Business Grow, based on its successful Red consumer plans.

Source: iTWire

Google's public DNS goes offline

Google's public domain name system (DNS) service went offline yesterday in South East Asia and Australia/New Zealand regions, affecting a large number of users in the area.

Source: iTnews Australia

Mon, 13th Oct 2014

NBN causing inevitable copper cost increase for users: Telstra

Australia's dominant telco has argued that as users leave its fixed copper network, the price to access the network will have to rise.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Telstra pushes for seven percent wholesale price hike

Australia's largest telco Telstra has made its case for a 7.2 percent hike in wholesale charges across its fixed-line services, arguing that its costs will rise as a result of the churn of users off its network and onto the NBN.

Source: iTnews Australia

Telstra makes case for wholesale price hike

Telstra has told the Australian and Competition and Consumer Commission that it should be allowed to raise its wholesale charges for fixed line services by 7.2 per cent.

Source: Computerworld

Telstra cries poor - NBN is hurting us!

It is almost impossible to believe. Telstra, the former government monopoly that has squeezed billions out of the NBN, with many more billions to come, is now complaining that it will have to raise prices – because of competition from the NBN.

Source: iTWire

Fri, 10th Oct 2014

Foreign fighters Bill gives ASIO more metadata, computer access

Australian Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security Vivienne Thom has warned that the definition of 'security' in new legislation is so broad that allowing ASIO powers to access metadata and computers for security reasons can cover more than ever.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Australian competition regulator warns of split issues

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has said that splitting its regulatory functions into two entities could impact the regulation of telecommunications and the NBN.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Thu, 09th Oct 2014

iiNet seeks answers on mandatory data-retention regime

In a public response to the private industry consultation on data retention, iiNet has asked the Attorney-General's Department to explain how a scheme would protect privacy and limit agency access to customer data.

Source: ZDNet Australia

Telstra tests prioritised 4G 'lanes' for G20

In addition to rolling out a private network in Queensland for emergency services during G20, Telstra will also test out prioritised traffic on its commercial 4G network.

Source: ZDNet Australia

ACCAN pushes for mobile app crackdown

Mobile app stores and developers could soon come under more scrutiny from consumer protection authorities.

Source: iTnews Australia

Data retention: iiNet slams 'mass surveillance'

Internet service provider iiNet has again condemned the government's proposed data retention scheme as "mass surveillance". In a response to a government consultation paper on the scheme, the ISP also takes issue with what it describes as ambiguity regarding the data that telcos would have to retain.

Source: Computerworld

Tim Berners-Lee says forget targeted advertising and let data be free

The founder of the web, Tim Berners-Lee, renews his call for open data, as long as there's rules around appropriate use.

Source: PC Authority